Finally decided to pull the heel shifter off after work. On my way home my shift lever fell down onto my foot. Was real excited. The rear ball stud came out. Was really wierd. Threaded back in. Fell out again on the way home. Got it loctited in now. Didn't have a 7/16 in my bag and my small cresant wrench was too big to fit. Anybody have this issue?

 

Should be a lock nut on it. Oh yeah, locktight everything...
For some reason, unlike seems like half the folks here, I have never had a problem with the stock linkage???

 

The front one has a lock nut but the rear doesn't go through the arm. Loctite never fails except if you use red then it can really bite of you want it to come apart. Gotta add an 11mm or 7/16 to my kit

 

The most frequent failure is the ball joint itself, the ball comes out of the socket, seems to happen after about 25,000 miles. Victims report good luck with a zip tie getting them home. Replacing the ball joints with spherical rod ends (Heim joints) eliminates the ball joint failure problem, but using locktite on the bolts is still required.

 

This was the stock linkage ?

 

It's part of my routine maintenance to check all 4 shift levers , the one on the trans is a bigger problem if it strips the shaft splines , not an easy fix.

 

Yup all stock. 20ish thousand miles. I don't like the stock linkage ill put something else on after it breaks. Zip ties in the bag just in case

 

When the ball link at the end of the shaft that goes from transmission to shift lever fails it creates a problem.
If you are on the side of the road then a piece of shoe lace, strip of bandana or zip tie can hold the ball into the joint until you get home.
Heim ends can be purchased for less than $10 for the pair on ebay.
*Also check the allen nut at the transmission shaft at oil service.

 

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...eim-seals.html